For the New Orleans Saints, their offseason started the moment the clock turned zero on Sunday. This is a pivotal time for the Saints, especially after outperforming expectations throughout the season.
Saints Make Moves at the Start of a Crucial Offseason
NFL free agency is about two months away, and the Saints have a good amount of work to get done before that day arrives. Some important players are out of contract or need extensions this offseason. For example, Chris Olave will be entering his fifth year next season, and star linebacker Demario Davis is out of contract. There are some big decisions the Saints need to make.
Before that point arrives, there are still some small things New Orleans can get done. One of those was signing players to reserve/future contracts, which is what the Saints did with eight players:
- CB Beanie Bishop Jr.
- OT Barry Wesley
- DT Coziah Izzard
- CB Dalys Beanum
- OT Easton Kitty
- WR Elijah Cooks
- S Elliot Davison
- CB Jayden Price
Among all players on this list, Wesley is the only one who has played this season. This occurred during the Saints’ Week 13 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Another player worth noting is Price. The team’s special teams unit has struggled throughout the season, and since wide receiver Rashid Shaheed was traded, the punt return game has been particularly ineffective. One player who can help fix this is Price, and special teams will be his best path onto the main roster.
These signings are not the only moves New Orleans has made recently. Today, the Saints signed CFL WR Damien Alford.
— Damien Alford (@DamienAlford5) January 6, 2026
In 2025, Alford was the No. 1 overall pick in the CFL Draft, and he has been a great player for the Calgary Stampeders. At around 6-foot-5, Alford is a contested-catch monster who is excellent at adjusting to any pass. At only 24 years old, and with the Saints’ need at WR, this signing could be a great long-term move.
Alford will be a name to watch all offseason and likely next preseason.